Local child attends ‘Kids State Dinner,’ praised by First Lady

Photo courtesy of Monika Hornbostel
Nicholas Hornbostel, 8, of Edwards, sat beside First Lady Michelle Obama at this week's Kids State Dinner at the White House. Nicholas earned the privilege by being the Colorado winner in the Epicurious Healthy Lunchtime contest. He entered a sushi salad recipe.

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EAGLE COUNTY — First lady Michelle Obama’ dinner companion was a charming and conversant local boy during Tuesday’s Kids State Dinner.

Nicholas Hornbostel, 8, of Edwards, was seated next to the first lady for the event.

“They chose two talkative kids to sit on either side of Mrs. Obama,” said Monika Hornbostel, Nicholas’ mother. “It was the experience of a lifetime.”

Nicholas was one of 54 kids chosen for the event, after winning their state competition for recipes submitted in the Epicurious Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.

The kids came up with a healthy lunch recipe that includes all the food groups and tastes delicious.

The winners got a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a “Kids State Dinner” at the White House, hosted by the First Lady.

Nicholas won for his sushi salad recipe.

“This might be the first and last time for me to have dinner at the White House,” Nicholas said.

Obama had about two minutes with each winner.

“She made you feel like the center of the universe and two minutes,” Monika said.

The young chefs and one parent got to be at the table. Monika was the lucky one in the Hornbostel family.

“When the ushers saw our table cards they told us what great seats we had. We didn’t know what they were talking about until we were inside,” Monika said.

Obama praised Nicholas during her opening remarks for his dreams of wanting to be “a cook and an engineer and be president.”

“If you keep dreaming up new ideas, if you keep eating healthy and getting active, then you’re going to make your communities and your country stronger than ever before,” Mrs. Obama said. “That’s what this state dinner is really about. We really want you guys to realize your dreams.”